Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Norwalk, of which he is past councillor
is a past master of Old Well Lodge, Free
and Accepted Masons, and is a member of
the Connecticut Past Masters' Associa-
tion.
Mr. Finch married Esther M. Elzeah,
daughter of Robert J. and Angeline A.
Elzeah, former residents of Medo, Blue
Earth county, Minnesota. Robert J. Elzeah
was born in Utica, New York, May
16, 1846, and died in September, 1916.
He was a hatter by occupation, and when
a young man followed the advice of Horace
Greeley and went West. He was
among the pioneers in his township in
Minnesota. After his daughter, Esther
M., was fourteen, the family returned
East and located in Norwalk, where Mr.
Elzeah followed his trade of hatter. Mr.
and Mrs. Finch were the parents of four
children: I. Howard L., born June 26,
1890; married Florence Burr, and has a
daughter, Edna May Finch. 2. Grace,
born December 1, 1897; married John L.
Burr. 3. Robert J., born February 14,
1899, married Edna M. Joseph. 4. Georgiana
M.. born October 10, 1904. With
his family Mr. Finch is an attendant of
the Methodist Episcopal church, and
freely gives of his time and finances to the
carrying on of its good work.
MINOR, Sheldon E.,
Civil Engineer.
The Minor family in America was
founded by Thomas Minor, a native of
Somerset, England, and a son of Clement
Minor, of that place. Thomas Minor left
England in 1646, and in 1683 was among
the settlers of Stonington, Connecticut.
He was the father of a large family, and
his sons settled in various localities, leav-
ing numerous descendants who rank
among the leading citizens of their com-
munities. His son, John Minor, settled
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
iq8
in Woodbury, Connecticut, and he is the
ancestor of the Litchfield county family
of Minor.
A descendant of this branch, Sheldon
E. Minor, was born in Northfield, Con-
necticut, September 14, i860, son of
Henry M. Minor, and grandson of Simeon
Minor. The Christian name of Simeon
occurs very frequently in the Minor fam-
ily. The grandfather of Mr. Minor lived
in Northfield, where he was a farmer and
among the useful men of the town.
Henry M. Minor was born in Litch-
field county, Connecticut, and died in
Alexandria from sickness contracted in
the army. He was a member of Company
A, 19th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.
Previous to enlisting he had followed
farming in Northfield. Mr. Minor was a
member of the Masonic fraternity. He
married Amelia Heaton. After the death
of her husband, Mrs. Minor married (sec-
ond) Henry Ray. The only child of the
first marriage was Sheldon E., of whom
further.
Sheldon E. Minor was educated in the
schools of Litchfield and Thomaston, Con-
necticut, and was graduated from Shef-
field Scientific School in 1882 with the degree
of Ph. B. Equipped with a good
education, Mr. Minor applied himself to
the mastering of the practical side of his
profession, and for several years worked
on river and harbor improvements and in
building railroads in Cuba and Pennsylvania.
In 1887 he located in Greenwich,
Connecticut, where he opened an office
and has met with success. He has been
engaged in a general civil engineering
and surveying business since that time.
Mr. Minor entered into the public affairs
of Greemvich soon after making his resi-
dence there, and is a staunch Republican.
He served as clerk and treasurer of the
borough of Greenwich for seventeen years
and discharged the duties incumbent on